Nipmuck State Forest

Explore Nipmuck State Forest

The second oldest state forest in Connecticut the Nipmuck was 9,411.9 as of 2016.  It is made up of five main blocks and two small parcels in Union, Woodstock, Willington, Ashford, and Stafford.

• Breakneck Block (surrounding Bigelow Hollow)
• Mountain Laurel Sanctuary — Unexplored
• Bear Den — Unexplored
• South Block –★★– 7 miles — A rough loop mainly used for snowmobiling in the winter
• Hedgehog Hill — Unexplored (Parking Link?)
• The state also operates three boat launches
  • Mashapaug Pond
  • Morey Pond
  • Black Pond (Woodstock)

Highlights of the forest include the Cat Rocks Cave, the highest elevation in Windham County at Snow Hill (1,210 Feet), and amazing scenery of the Quinebaug Highlands.

Links

• DEEP – Maps
• DEEP – Breakneck Block Management Plan 2016-2025
• CTMQ – Nipmuck State Forest

History

The first tract of what was originally the Union State Forest was purchased for $3.57 an acre in 1905 making it the second oldest state forest.  Then State Forester, Austin Hawes, wanted the second State Forest to be in the pine type, as Connecticut had to import most of its softwood lumber at the time.

The majority of the acreage came much later when was purchased in 1944 from the Quinebaug Forestry Company. The Wells family had started the Quinebaug Forestry Company to buy up woodlots and abandoned farmland to manage as forestland and use the pine to make shipping boxes for the American Optical Company.  The company is also operated a sawmill in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and later became known for creating Old Sturbridge Village. The state ended up purchasing a total of 4,586 acres from the company.  Bigelow Hollow State Park was part of Nipmuck State Forest was split out and  designated a State Park in 1948.